Miss Li didn’t know what Aunt Lian wanted to see her about, but she was not averse to women.

Moreover, Aunt Lian was someone close to Yang Haiyan, and based on her feelings for Yang Haiyan, she had a good impression of Aunt Lian. “Please come in, Aunt Lian.”

Aunt Lian walked into the room, and the strong herbal scent inside made people feel very at ease.

Without waiting for Miss Li to speak, Aunt Lian began, “Miss, I came to see you today about the Second Master.”

Miss Li’s heart tightened.

She wasn’t an ignorant young girl; she had grown up in the county town.

At first, she had felt nervous around Qin Shouye and didn’t want to get too close, but over time, she had sensed something from his gaze during her frequent visits.

Hearing Aunt Lian’s question, she became extremely anxious, thinking that Yang Haiyan must have learned about Qin Shouye.

After all, Granny Lian represented Yang Haiyan.

With this line of thought, Miss Li became nervous and said, “Granny, the Second Master’s affairs have nothing to do with me. I… I didn’t…”

Miss Li bit her lip, unable to voice the thought of having seduced him.

Granny Lian initially had no suspicions, but seeing Miss Li’s anxious expression and hearing her words, she wondered if the Second Master’s illness had something to do with her.

Granny Lian weighed her words and said, “Miss Li, there’s no need to worry. The Young Madam just asked me to inquire about the situation. If you have any difficulties, feel free to tell me; I might be able to help.”

Miss Li thought for a moment and slowly replied, “The Second Master isn’t seriously ill. He only said he had a headache because of the hot weather; he might have suffered from heatstroke. But I’ve examined him, and he’s actually fine.

However, I thought that some headache problems can be difficult to diagnose, so I prepared some medicine for headaches for him.”

Granny Lian seized on the key point in her words: “So every time the Second Master comes, it’s you who examines him?”

Miss Li replied, “Yes, every time he comes, my father isn’t home.”

Qin Shouye always came when Dr. Li wasn’t there.

After hearing this, Granny Lian carefully sized up Miss Li.

The girl was beautiful, which was no wonder that a man would be interested in her, especially a country boy who rarely saw such a lovely girl.

But whether the Second Master felt the same way, Granny Lian didn’t know.

Even so, even if the Second Master had feelings for her, Granny Lian disapproved of them being together.

Although she was a servant, the Second Master and Miss Li were ultimately unsuitable.

It wasn’t that she looked down on Miss Li; if the Qin family were still a country family, the situation would be different.

But now, the Qin family was the General’s family, and if the General’s sister-in-law were kidnapped by bandits and something happened to her, it would definitely not be good for the General’s reputation if word got out.

If the General and the country girl spent their lives in Yunxiang County, it might not matter much in this small area.

But the General was only twenty-two years old, and he was a student of Lord Du; everyone knew the General wouldn’t stay here for his whole life.

Thinking of this, Granny Lian smiled and said, “In that case, it’s not your fault, Miss. Perhaps the Madam Haiyan has put pressure on the Second Master, making him only able to slack off and relax. Thank you for letting me know; I will report this to the Madam right away.”

Miss Li didn’t know if Granny Lian truly understood something or had figured something out.

Seeing that Granny Lian didn’t say much more, she also didn’t press further. “Then I’ll see you out, Granny Lian.”

Granny Lian said, “Miss, please don’t. It’s hot; you shouldn’t see me off.”

Seeing this, Miss Li didn’t insist.

She watched as Granny Lian left, her brows tightly knitted, feeling a deep, unspoken sorrow and quite irritated.

When Granny Lian returned to Yang Haiyan, Yang Haiyan was making something for her baby, an ancient version of a diaper.

When she saw Granny Lian arrive, she said, “You’re back, Granny, Quickly, take a rest.”

Granny Lian bowed to Yang Haiyan, walked over to her side, and took up a fan to fan her. “I have no mood to rest; I’m worried about the Second Master.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Haiyan put down her needle and thread and looked at Granny Lian. “What happened? Is it possible that Shouye’s condition is very serious?”

She worried because he was Qin Fang’s direct younger brother.

Granny Lian shook her head. “It’s both yes and no. The illness isn’t physically harmful, but it’s a matter of the heart.”

This left Yang Haiyan stunned. “What do you mean? Granny your words are becoming increasingly profound; they’re so profound that I don’t even understand them.”

Puff… Granny Lian couldn’t help but laugh at what she said. “To be honest, this matter is really hard to explain.”

Yang Haiyan said, “Then just speak simply.”

Granny Lian thought for a moment: “The Second Master might be experiencing the beginnings of love.”

Yang Haiyan paused, and her smile gradually faded: “Is it Miss Li?”

Since Granny Lian had said that, Yang Haiyan couldn’t think of anyone else.

Seeing that Yang Haiyan had guessed, Granny Lian recounted the events: “…My lady, what do you think? Am I overthinking this?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “I didn’t know. Actually, if Miss Li could be my sister-in-law, that would be quite good, but…”

“Oh dear, my lady, you mustn’t think that way,” Granny Lian said nervously. “It’s not that I look down on Miss Li, but her past would not reflect well on the General or your reputation. It’s not that Miss Li is bad; she is gentle and graceful, a rare good woman. However, if the Second Master is to follow the General to the capital, how would people talk about you and the General having a sister-in-law who has been with a bandit for days? How would you hold your head up high?

My lady, one’s reputation is everything.

As long as we live, we will be judged by others.

And, unfortunately, it’s all true, and you cannot explain it away.

Moreover, you can forget about the Second Master’s future.

If he becomes successful, can Miss Li, in the position of the Second Master’s wife, entertain guests?

How many noble ladies would want to associate with someone like Miss Li, given her past?

My lady, you may think I’m overstepping, but I believe that if this happens, it will definitely affect you and the General.”

Yang Haiyan certainly understood that Granny Lian was doing this for her, and what she said made a lot of sense.

In ancient times, a woman’s reputation was incredibly important.

However, she said, “I’m just a sister-in-law; I can’t interfere with my brother-in-law’s marriage. Also, even if one day the General and I go to the capital, Shouye and the others might not necessarily follow.

After all, a large tree has many branches. Besides, if someone spreads rumors about Miss Li, it’s Shouye’s responsibility, since I’m just a sister-in-law.”

Nurse Lian asked, “So do you agree or disagree?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “See, you’re talking nonsense again. I’m just a sister-in-law; Shouye has his parents. This kind of matter isn’t for me to decide. Moreover, Miss Li is indeed a good person.” If she could become a sister-in-law, that would certainly be good.

However, as Granny Lian said, Miss Li’s past might one day be used as a weapon against Qin Fang.

But in this matter, Yang Haiyan would not interfere.

If the Qin family did not oppose it, and if one day Miss Li married Shouye, if others used Miss Li’s past to gossip, she wouldn’t hold back either.

If the Qin family opposed it, she wouldn’t try to convince them, as she had no need to invite trouble for herself.

So, in this matter, she was just a sister-in-law.

However, there were some things she had to remind Qin Shouye about. “Granny, go call Shouye over and tell him I’m waiting for him in the study. I have an idea regarding the accounts that I want to discuss with him.”

Granny Lian replied, “Yes.”

Qin Shouye had just picked up some medicine from Miss Li and hadn’t been brewing it.

He wasn’t sick; he was using the pretense of being ill to visit Miss Li, which he had learned from Qin Shoucheng, who had pretended to be sick to take a leave from school.

When Qin Shouye learned that his sister-in-law was looking for him, he immediately followed Granny Lian.

Granny Lian brought Qin Shouye to the door of the study and did not enter: “Second Master, my lady is waiting for you inside.”

Qin Shouye nodded and walked into the study.

Upon entering, he saw Yang Haiyan reading a book and called out, “Sister-in-law.”

Yang Haiyan said, “You’re here. Sit down. Your elder brother usually likes to read your books. The books on that side of the bookshelf are all ones I’ve read, while the ones on this side are all ones he has read. It’s hard to imagine that two years ago, in August, when we just got married, he was still illiterate; I doubt he knew even a hundred characters. And that hundred characters were probably learned from asking others constantly during his five years of military service. But now, a whole shelf is filled with books that he has read.”

“Shouye, do you have any thoughts on this?”

Qin Shouye replied, “Elder brother is diligent and eager to learn.”

He admired this very much.

Everything his elder brother had achieved was through his own hard work, and everything they had was given by their elder brother.

Thus, he respected his elder brother even more.

Yang Haiyan smiled: “Yes, he is very studious. For things he doesn’t understand, he humbly asks. But the most precious thing about your elder brother is not just his eagerness to learn and progress, but he knows what he wants. He understands that to obtain what he desires, he needs to study hard. So, he dedicates himself to his studies. Shouye, do you know what you want?”

Qin Shouye thought for a moment: “In the past, when I was still in Baili Village, my thought was to be filial to my parents and stay by their side. Now… having come here, my thought is to help my elder brother, to be his right-hand man, so that my elder brother doesn’t have to worry about these matters.”

Yang Haiyan shook her head: “Shouye, that’s an idea; ideas and wants are two different things. Your previous thought was in Baili Village, being filial to your parents, but is that really what you want?”

Qin Shouye fell silent. His previous thought was not what he wanted.

He remembered that he initially wanted to find work in the town, to see the world, but because his third brother was taken away by their elder brother and sister-in-law, he couldn’t go.

However, he said, “The previous thought wasn’t what I wanted, but the current thought is what I want. I want to be my elder brother’s helper.”